Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Hi and welcome to the forum It might be due to over excitement ?? Would love to see pictures of your pups (see the technical page) Ternaya and 19 month old Harley (fox red lab)
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Hi there, it sounds to me just like normal puppy excitement. It will calm down with time... In the mean time, remember to praise him for gentle quiet behaviour, and give him and Bear little treats when they are being peaceful together. Would love to see photos of them!
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? https://www.dropbox.com/s/qcqmhr7dzmw0lf2/10906824_10152535800801905_105997638_o.jpg?dl=0 This one should be Bear https://www.dropbox.com/s/8gb9an3c6kq9yqx/10999037_10152637803191905_410801713_o.jpg?dl=0 And this one should be Diesel. I hope I did this right.
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? I am so glad to here that this is probably just a phase! I usually break up the play if Diesel gets really wound up. I hold him and cuddle him until he settles a little bit. I'm noticing more that he typically starts getting loud when Bear pushes him down and kind of puts a submissive hold on him. I think Diesel might be trying to use the noise to assert himself or ask for help. Whenever we take Bear away Diesel still comes after Bear to play immediately though. My guess is it's part of their adjustment period to each other. I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't have this screeching puppy forever haha.
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? They look so sweet! No, it won't last forever. But you are right to separate them if it gets too much - puppies can easily get very wound up, just like over-tired toddlers!! Welcome to the forum by the way, and do keep us informed on how your two are progressing. You say Diesel is a lab mix - what else is he crossed with, do you know?
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? I have taught my two the command 'enough' which means all play stops - well worth the effort (and extra treats!)
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? [quote author=Boogie link=topic=1722.msg147556#msg147556 date=1425551665] I have taught my two the command 'enough' which means all play stops - well worth the effort (and extra treats!) [/quote] I've done the same with my two. Invaluable when they turn into psycho dogs!
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? "enough" sounds like a command I need to start teaching them! I'm actually not sure what breed fathered Diesel. The mother was a black lab/Australian Sheppard mix. We're a little anxious to see where his growth will stop because the mother is only about 50 lbs. She's the lean and lanky type but he seems to be a little bulky enough now. His markings made me think German Sheppard but some say Mastiff (eek).
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? I am hoping this problem will somehow resolve as our 8 month old matures...We have had 2 other wonderful labs (both were 14years), so it has been a long time since dealing with puppyhood!......This guy seems to cowl and back off whenever we try to pet him. This is VERY upsetting!!! Don't recall any incident that would have created this issue. I think this started a few months ago. He's ok with it when he's lying down, but becomes "hand shy" or fearful when you approach him UNLESS he is being handed a treat! We have tried to "desensitize" him, patting and giving treats at the same time, but we are back to square one again later! Anyone one ever have this problem.???
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Chepi doesn't like the hand approaching the top of her head sometimes. I read somewhere that it wasn't abnormal and to approach your dog lower down, maybe the top of the chest for a pat. That's what I do if she backs off. Or, I stand alongside her (not facing her) to get in a sneaky pat on the head. She loves having her head stroked if she has it on my lap!
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Welcome to you dogmom I would stop all patting for a while and just play games and train, treat etc. Tug is a great game as you can get really close to the dog and have your face near his, which is great for bonding. He will begin to come to you as the bond grows. Gypsy had a really difficult start from about 6 weeks her health was an issue and she was rushed to the emergency vets several times and had to stay in twice. She didn't come to me until 10 weeks old so the bond was slow to start. It took her ages before stroking and patting were ok with her. NOW she is like a cat! She rubs up to me and if she's wanting a pet and not getting it she goes between my legs as if to say 'come on then'. She likes nothing better than a massage with the towel.
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? [quote author=Boogie link=topic=1722.msg147556#msg147556 date=1425551665] I have taught my two the command 'enough' which means all play stops - well worth the effort (and extra treats!) [/quote] I want to do this too.. Is there something specific you do to teach it???
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Yes, as soon as I wanted play to stop I put treats under their noses and said 'enough'. I started with super smelly dried tripe sticks. When Gypsy was little I had the room separated so they had to go one each side of the gate, then were given a tripe stick each when I closed the gate. They soon started rushing to their sides of the gate. Now we don't have a gate, but when I say 'enough', they each go to their own mat and get a treat - very occasionally (maybe once a week) they still get a tripe stick. I then expect all play to stop and the dogs to settle. I also used treats for this at first, but they are used to it now and settle anyway.
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Hi guys Hope your all well As some of you may no Ziva is going through the crocodile teeth nipping etc quick question considering Iv just put her in her crate we were outside getting last p and she jumps up into rockery and starts to bite on my plant I know she tired at this point cause its only time she jumps up onto rockery I pick her up tell her firmly NO and she sinks her teeth into my wrist ...to say ouch is an under statement so picked her up straight back in to house and into crate, either that or I'm packing her bags again buy time I get from garden to crate will she no why she going into crate
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? That's a good question. There's been some research to show that a marker needs to come within 1 second of the behaviour to be effective (with zero seconds is the most effective - so a marker that happens the instant the behaviour happens is the very best by far). By a marker I mean a click, or event marker. The actual reward or punishment comes after the marker - as long as your timing has been good in delivering the marker then you probably have a few seconds to deliver the reward or punishment (in your case putting Ziva in the crate). If you really want to get more refined about how you're using a marker and punishment for this then what I'd do is use a marker when the biting happens (like the word 'timeout') and then get to the crate as fast as you can. Initially she won't know what 'timeout' means, but if you always follow it with putting her in the crate then she will learn. The use of the marker will give you a 'bridge' between the behaviour and the consequence (crate time). However, I would very strongly recommend not using the crate for this. The crate should be a safe haven, not a punishment. In order to work to reduce biting it'd have to be seen by Ziva to be an unpleasant thing to be removed from people and put in the crate. You don't really want her to see the crate like that.... So try to put her in some other room like the bathroom. Just for half a minute. If you are just using the crate as a nice quiet place for her to calm down after crazy, overtired behaviour that's different and perfectly ok Taking a step back, though, the biting is just a phase and will pass in time. It'll be enough to try to remove your attention (and body parts) as much as you can when she bites, or give her a toy to munch on instead and in the meantime give her lots of legit chewy things to exercise that need to use her teeth. That's what I'd try to do with a puppy, and save the crate as a safe, comfy place for rest and recuperation
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Hello, wondering if anyone can offer some reassurance/advice? We got our new pup this week, she's 8 and a half weeks old and seems to be settling in well - no whining, sleeps through the night with a pee break around 2am, and eating well. The only thing causing us concern is that she seems to be biting her own legs and feet a lot, especially when we put her to bed for naps or at night time. She has lots of chew toys and is doing the normal chewing/biting at our hands, slippers etc. I've read they can chew themselves to soothe and comfort themselves if they're stressed or lonely, but apart from the chewing she seems really settled. Is this normal or is there something we're not doing? Thanks for your help.
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Hi there, I think I would just have a chat with the vet to make sure she is not itching due to an allergic reaction or something.
Re: Puppy problems - will things EVER improve??? Yes - worth a trip to the vets to rule out mites, allergies etc. Also, check what you wash her bedding in - that could cause itchy skin
Mostly just venting here... Abby turned 12 weeks yesterday, and for the past week or so she's been a little terror. Well, most of it is, she's awake a lot more during the day, so there's a lot more time for her to be bad in! She has given up on laying down and playing gently with our adult dog - she grabs his tail and races through the house now, constantly, slamming into stuff - I have to put her in "puppy jail" (pen) for 10 minutes at a time, about 5 times a day due to this o_o She doesn't respond at all to "no" (except to snap at me when I pick her up) and is completely undeterred by loud noises. She splashes in her water bowl and prefers to poo inside, after coming in from outside :eyeroll: I feel like I'm going insane some days!!
stripeybelly Please don't br mad at me but for first time in weeks you have actually just made me laugh and as I though I was only person that had horrid Labrador Ziva will be 13 weeks on Sunday and I am having a heck of a time with her .Just put post up earlier about her car nausea . Ziva snaps at me and the only way I can and only sometimes make it better is I say uh,uh and tuk my hands under my arms if she comes back which she does with avenjunce at times say "ahah" again if she still persists I turn slightly away and hold a palm of my hand out which is mean to stop her as my body language is telling her I don't want this .I learned this just week or so ago from customer who comes into Hubbie's work .Doesn't always work as tiredness can over rule and she really is going mad at my arms So thank you for making feel human and smile again Marie
